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CONSTITUTION   AND   LAWS 


FOR  THE 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GUIDANCE 


OF   THE 


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ISslablished  January  28,  1861. 


"Union   is  Strength — Knowledge   is   Power 


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gelltbille,  glL :  $ 

PRINTED   AT   THE    "MINER"    OFFICE.        S& 

1864.  M 


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LiDnrtni 

OF  THE 


CONSTITU^f,TI»WVs 


FOB  THE 


GOVERNMENT  AND  GUIDANCE 


or  THE 


AMERICAN  MINERS1  ASSOCIATION, 


Established.    January   28,  1861. 


"Union    is    Strength — Knowledge    is    Power." 


gtlltbiUe,  |U.: 

PRINTED    AT   THE    "MINER"    OFFICE. 

1864. 


Step  by  Step,  the  longest  march 
Can  be  won,  can  be  won  ; 

Single  stones  will  form  an  arch, 
One  by  one,  one  by  one, 

And  by  union,  wbat  we  will 
Can  be  all  accomplished  still. 

Drops  of  water  turn  a  mill — 

Singly  none,  singly  none. 


A  ■(■'  ~ 


ADDRESS 


The  necessity  of  an  Association  of  Miner?,  and  of  those 
branches  of  industry  immediately  connected  with  mining 
operations,  having  for  its  objects  tho  physical,  mental  and 
social  elevation  of  the  Miner,  has  long  been  felt  by  the  think- 
ing portion  of  Miners  generally. 

Union  is  the  great  fundamental  principle  by  which  every 
object  of  importance  is  to  be  accomplished.  Man  is  a  social 
being,  and  if  left  to  himself,  in  an  isolated  condition,  would 
be  one  of  the  weakest  creatures  :  but,  associated  with  his 
kind,  he  works  wonders.  Men  can  do  jointly  what  they  can- 
not do  singly;  and  the  union  of  minds  and  hands— the  con- 
centration of  their  power — becomes  almost  omnipotent.  Nor 
is  this  alU  Men  not  only  accumulate  power  by  union,  but 
gain  warmth  and  earnestness.  There  is  an  eleetric  sympathy 
kindled  up  amongst  them,  and  the  attractive  forces  inherent 
in  human  nature  are  called  into  action,  and  a  stream  of 
generous  emotion  of  a  friendly  regard  for  eaoh  other  binds 
together  and  animates  the  whole. 

If  men  would  spread  one  set  of  opinions  or  crush  another — 
they  make  a  society.  Would  they  improve  the  sanitary  con- 
dition of  our  towns,  light  our  streets  with  gas,  or  supply  our 
dwellings  with  water — they  form  societies.  From  the  organ- 
ization of  our  armies,  our  railroads  and  banking  companies, 
down  through  every  minute  ramification  of  society  to  trades' 
associations  and  sick  societies,  men  have  learned  the  power 
and  efficiency  of  co-operation,  and  are,  therefore,  determined 
to  stand  by  each  other. 

How  lung,  then,  will  Miners  remain  isolated,  antagonistic 
*"  to  each  other  ?     Does  it  not  behoove   us,  as   Miners,   to   use 
J  every  meats  to  elevate  our  position  in  society,  by  a  reforma- 
tion in  character,  by  obliterating  all  personal  animosities  and 
0  frivolous  nationalities,  abandoning  our  pernicious  habits  and 
^  degrading  pursuits,  and  striving  for  the  attainment  of  pw« 

i  1 088842 

e 


4  ADDRESS. 

and  high  principles  and  generous  motives,  which  will  fit  us 
to  bear  a  manly,  useful  and  honorable  part  in  the  world. 
Our  unity  is  essential  to  the  attainment  of  our  own  rights  and 
the  amelioration  of  our  present  condition  ;  and  our  voices 
must  be  heard  in  the  legislative  halls  of  our  land.  There  it 
is  where  our  complaints  must  be  made  and  our  rights  defined. 
The  insatiable  maw  of  Capital  would  devour  every  vestige  of 
Labor's  rights  ;  but  we  must  demand  legislative  protection ; 
and,  to  accomplish  this,  we  must  organize.  Our  remedy, 
our  safety,  our  protection,  our  dearest  interests,  and  the  social 
well-being  of  our  families,  present  and  future,  depend  upon 
our  unity,  our  duty,  and  our  regard  for  each  other. 

In  laying  before  you,  therefore,  the  objects  of  this  Associa- 
tion, Ave  desire  it  to  be  understood  that  our  objects  are  not 
merely  pecuniary,  but  to  mutually  instruct  and  improve  each 
other  in  knowledge,  which  is  power;  to  study  the  laws  of  life; 
the  relations  of  labor  to  capital ;  politics,  municipal  affairs, 
literature,  science,  or  any  other  subject  relating  to  the  gene- 
ral welfare  of  our  class.  Has  not  experience  and  observation 
taught  us  what  one  of  the  profoundest  thinkers  of  the  present 
day  has  said,  that  "  all  human  interests,  and  combined  human 
endeavors,  and  social  growth  in  this  world  have,  at  certain 
stages  of  their  developments,  required  organization  ;  and 
Labor,  the  grandest  ef  human  interests,  requires  it  now.  There 
must  be  an  organization  of  labor;  to  begin  with  it  straight- 
way, to  proceed  with  it,  and  succeed  in  it  more  and  more." 

One  of  America's  immortals  said,  "  To  me  there  is  no  East, 

no  West,  no  North,  no  South ;"  and  I  would  say,  let  there  bo 

no  English,  no  Irish,  no  Germans,  Scotch  or  Welsh.    This  ia 

our  country,  and — 

"  All  men  are  >>rethren — how  the  wrtch-words  run ! 
And  when  men  act  &s  such  is  justice  won." 

Come,  then,  and  rally  round  the  standard  of  union — the 
Union  of  States  and  the  UNITY  of  Mni  rs,  and  with  honesty 
of  purpose,  zeal  and  watchfulness — ''■■:  pledge  of  success — 
unite  for  the  emancipation  of  our  1  !  ■■••  .and  the  regeneration 
and  elevation,  physically,  mental1;.-  ud  morally,  of  our  species. 
Yours,  on  behalf  of  the  Min-i  ,  D.  W. 


PREAMBLE    AND    CONSTITUTION 

OF    THE 


Whereas,  It  is  the  experience  of  the  laboring  classes,  and 
especially  that  of  the  working  miners,  that,  in  the  unequal 
conflict  of  labor  with  capital,  the  laborer,  unless  he  combine 
with  his  fellows  for  mutual  protection,  is  invariably  defeated 
and  made  the  mere  tool  of  designing  capitalists:  and, 

Whereas,  The  working  miners  are,  in  the  prosecution  of 
their  labors,  subjected  to  manifold  dangers  from  explosions 
and  insecure  roofs ;  also  from  fire  damps  and  other  noxious 
gasses,  the  result  of  imperfect  ventillation,  as  well  as  to  acci- 
dents arising  from  other  causes  consequent  upon  the  parsi- 
mony of  employers,  whose  objects  it  would  seem  to  be  the 
increase  of  the  volume  of  their  capital,  without  reference  to 
the  fearful  loss  of  life,  limb  and  health,  which  is  the  cost  of 
such  increase ;  therefore,  be  it, 

Resolved,  That  we — the  working  miners  of  the  United 
States  of  America — associate  for  the  the  purpose  of  devising 
and  carrying  into  operation  the  best  means  of  securing  to  our- 
selves protection  against  the  evils  before  spoken  of,  and  of  all 
others  to  which  we  may  hereafter  bo  liable,  and  also  for  the 
purpose  of  mutual  improvement,  physically,  socially  and 
intellectually,  and  the  taking  of  all  necessary  steps  for  the 
advancement  of  the  best  interests  of  the  Association  thus 
formed;  and,  with  this  object  in  view,  we  adopt  the  fol- 
lowing 


3 


CONSTITUTION. 

This  Association  shall  bo  formed  of  members  who  shall  bo 
practical  miners,  organized  into  Lodges,  and  these  Lodges 
into  Districts,  which  Lodges  and  Districts  shall  be  under  the 


6  CONSTITUTION. 

supervision  of  a  General  Board  of  Directors  or  Trustees,  who 
shall,  besides  exercising  this  suporyision,  represent  this  Asso- 
ciation in  its  corporate  capacity. 

The  General  Board  shall  consist  of  one  President,  one 
Vice-President,  one  Financial  Secretary,  one  Corresponding 
Secretary,  ono  Treasurer,  and  one  Delegate,  to  bo  elected 
from  each  Lodge  in  the  Association,  who  shall  meet  once  a 
year  and  no  more,  unless  a  majority  of  the  Lodges  in  this 
Association  shall  determine  upon  a  Special  Called  Meeting 
of  the  General  Board,  by  the  majority  vote  of  all  the  respec- 
tive members  of  all  these  respective  Lodgeg  ;  in  which  caso 
the  result  of  said  voto  shall  be  sent  to  the  editor  of  the 
Weekly  Miner — from  each  Lodge  so  voting — by  the  Cor- 
responding Socretary  of  each  Lodge,  for  publication  in  that 
paper,  which  publication  shall  be  kept  standing  until  it  has 
been  determined  whether  a  majority  of  the  Lodges  havo 
voted  in  favor  of  such  called  meeting;  upon  which  it  is 
hereby  made  the-  duty  of  the  President  of  the  Association  to 
forthwith  publish  his  call  for  the  same  in  the  Weekly  Miner* 
stating  the  time,  place  and  objects  of  the  meeting,  and  giving 
sufficient  notice  thereof  to  enable  all  the  various  Lodges  to 
meet  and  elect  their  delegates  to  said  General  Board. 

The  officers  of  tho  General  Board,  to-wit :  the  President, 
Vice-President,  Financial  Secretary,  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer  shall  be  elected  by  the  delegates 
to  the  General  Board,  and  each  delegate  shall  have 
power  to  give  one  vote  for  each  and  every  twenty  members 
composing  the  Lodges  which  they  represent ;  provided,  that 
the  delegates  representing  Lodges  composed  of  less  than 
twenty  members  may  appear  at  the  General  Board  meetings, 


CONSTITUTION.  7 

and  take  part  in  the  debates  thoroof;  but  they  shall  bear 
their  own  expenses,  and  no  delegate  shall  be  allowed  to  vote 
unless  he  represents  at  least  twenty  members.  All  delegates 
representing  less  than  that  number,  and  bearing  their  own 
expenses,  shall  be  exempted  from  all  liability  for  any  of  the 
expenses  of  the  other  delegates  to  said  Board. 

Any  member  of  the  Association,  who  is  in  good  standing 
with  his  Lodge,  shall  bo  eligible  to  election  for  any  office  in 
the  Association. 

The  duties  of  the  Executive  officers  of  the  Association  are, 

First — That  of  the  President :  To  preside  over  all  meet- 
ings of  the  Board,  and  appoint  all  necessary  committees, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  delegates  in  session ;  issue  calls 
for  such  meetings,  receive  applications  for  admission  of  new 
Lodges  into  the  Association,  when  the  Board  is  not  in  session, 
and  admit  such  new  Lodges,  if  they  are  organized  in  a  man- 
ner harmonious  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Second — That  of  the  V ice-President :  To  perform  all  the 
various  functions  of  the  President  in  the  absence  of  that 
officer. 

Third — That  of  the  Financial  Secretary  :  To  receive  all 
moneys  and  drafts  paid  to  the  General  Board,  and  enter  a 
clear  and  satisfactory  account  of  the  same,  a3  well  as  of  all 
other  financial  affairs  of  the  Board,  in  a  book  to  be  provided 
and  kept  for  that  purpose ;  and  he  shall  pay  over  to  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Association  all  money  which  may  come  into 
his  hands  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  each  General  Board 
meeting,  and  on  or  before  the  expiration  of  every  threo 
months  thereafter  during  the  term  of  his  office. 


8  CONSTITUTION. 

Fourth — That  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary  :  To  enter 
all  resolutions  and  proceedings  of  the  Board  in  a  hook  which 
shall  be  provided  for  that  purpose;  read  the  same  when 
called  for  at  any  Board  meeting ;  communicate  with  the 
press  and  distant  members  and  officers  of  the  Association ; 
receive  all  post-office  orders,  communications,  parcels,  papers 
or  periodicals  for,  and  on  account  of,  the  General  Board. 

Fifth — That  of  the  Treasurer :  To  receive  from  the  Finan- 
cial Secretary  and  faithfully  keep — subject  to  the  order  of 
the  President  of  the  Board,  countersigned  by  the  Financial 
Secretary  of  said  Board —  all  moneys  and  credits  belonging, 
or  in  anywise  pertaining,  to  this  General  Board. 

These  Executive  officers  shall  hold  their  office  for  the  space 
of  two  years,  and  until  their  successors  shall  be  elected  and 
qualified. 

POWERS  OP  THE  GENERAL  BOARD. 

The  delegates,  when  assemblod  in  General  Convention, 
shall  have  Legislative  and  Judicial  powers  in  the  following 
cases,  to-wit : 

Legislative. — For  the  equal  assessment  of  all  the  members 
of  the  Association,  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses 
of  said  Board,  and  for  all  other  necessary  purposes  ;  for  the 
organization  of  new  Districts,  or  for  the  reorganization  of  old 
ones  ;  the  enactment  of  all  Laws  necessary  for  the  General 
Government  of  the  Association,  together  with  the  power  to 
enforce  the  strict  observance  of  such  laws.     Second, 

Judicial. — For  the  hearing  and  determining  of  all  griev- 
ances or  complaints  which  may  come  up  on  appeal  taken 
from  the  decision  of  any  District  Board,  whether  such  appeal 
be  taken  by  individual  members  or  Lodges ;  provided,  that 


CONSTITUTION.  9 

in  all  cases  the  appellants  shall  hare  deposited,  or  cause  to  he 
deposited,  with  the  Financial  Secretary  of  the  General  Board 
the  sum  often  dollars  ($10),  which  sum  of  money,  in  caso 
the  decision  of  the  Board  below  be  reversed,  shall  be  refunded 
to  the  appellant ;  otherwise  it  shall  remain  in  the  Treasury 
of  the  General  Board. 

GOVERNMENT   AND  POWERS  OF  THE   GENERAL  BOARD. 

The  Districts  and  Lodges  shall  be  officered  and  governed 
in  the  same  manner  and  by  the  same  grade  of  officers  as  those 
which  govern  the  General  Board.  They  may  also  make  such 
by-laws  for  said  government  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by 
their  respective  bodies ;  provided,  such  by-laws  are  in  har- 
mony with  the  Constitution  of  the  Association. 

The  District  Board  shall  be  composed  of  one  Delegate  from 
each  Lodge,  in  addition  to  the  proper  officers  of  said  Board, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Treasurer,  and  shall  have  Legisla- 
tive and  Judicial  power  in  the  following  cases :    First, 

Legislative. — On  all  questions  which  may  be  brought  before 
them  in  a  legitimate  manner,  from  the  various  Lodges  com- 
posing saids District,  in  relation  to  weights  and  measures, 
restriction  of  labor,  strikes,  &c,  and  shall  have  power  to  make 
assessments  upon  their  respective  Lodges,  in  the  proportion 
of  the  members  contained  therein,  for  the  purpose  of  defray- 
ing the  necessary  expenses  of  said  Board,  and  the  assistance 
or  support  of  any  of  its  members,  wherever  the  Board  shall 
authorize  such  support  or  assistance  to  be  given. 

The  Lodges  shall  be  composed  of  any  number  of  members 
who  may  organize  themselves  under  the  Constitution  of  the 
Association,  and  they  shall  have  power  to  regulate  all  their 
own  local  affairs;  provided,  that  in  so  doing  they  do  not 
conflict  with  the  affairs  or  interests  of  any  other  Lodge  in  the 
District;  and  in  case  of  any  confliction  of  interests  occurring 
as  above,  the  case  shall  be  referred  to  the  respective  District 
Boards  for  adjudication. 


GENERAL  LAWS. 


Section  1.  This  Society  shall  bo  called  the  "American 
Miners'  Association,"  and  shall  consist  exclusively  of  prac- 
tical Miners. 

Sec.  2.  The  affairs  of  each  Lodge  shall  bo  conducted  by  a 
President,  Cash  Secretary,  Corresponding  Secretary,  Door- 
keeper, Treasurer,  Financial  Committee,  and  a  General 
Committee 

Sec.  3.  The  Financial  Committee  shall  be  composed  of  six 
members,  and  the  President,  who  shall  preside  at  all  their 
meetings. 

Sec.  4.  The  General  Committee  shall  have  power  to  call 
meetings  of  their  respective  Lodges,  to  inflict  fines  on  officers 
and  members  for  non-attendance,  &c,  and  to  do  such  other 
business  as  may  be  required  of  them  by  their  respective 
Lodges. 

Sec.  5.  The  initiation  fee  shall  not  be  less  than  one  dollar 
per  member,  and  the  contribution  twenty-centa  per  member 
per  calendar  month. 

Sec.  6.  Any  member  who  shall  neglect  to  pay  his  arrears 
for  more  than  two  months,  shall  be  suspended  from  all  bene- 
fits until  such  arrears  are  paid  up  ;  and,  If  he  neglect  to  pay 
up  at  the  expiration  of  three  months,  he  shall  be  expelled. 

Sec.  7.  All  moneys  shall  be  paid  by  the  Treasurer,  on 
account  of  each  Lodge. 

Sec.  8.  Each  Lodge  shall  meet  once  in  a  week,  said  meet- 
ing to   bo  held  on  such  night  as  may,  by  a  majority,  be 


GENERAL  LAWS.  11 

deemed  proper.  (This  law  may  bo  modified  to  suit  circum- 
stances, by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  various  Distviot 
Boards. ) 

Sec.  9.  Any  member  who  shall  break  a  General  Law  or 
By-LaAv  to  which  there  is  no  penalty  attaohed,  shall  be  tried 
by  a  Committee,  which  Committee  shall  have  the  power  to 
inflict  such  fino  as  it  may  deem  proper,  under  all  the 
circumstances. 

Sec.  10.  The  Miners  of  each  Drift,  Shaft  or  Slope  shall 
have  the  power  to  manago  their  own  local  affairs ;  providing 
they  manage  them  in  accordance  with  the  spirit  of  the  Con- 
stitution and  Laws  of  this  Association. 

Sec.  11.  If  any  member  of  this  Association  shall  be  dis- 
charged by  his  employer  for  being  a  member,  or  for  taking 
an  active  or  prominent  part  in  said  Association,  the  Miners 
who  may  be  working  for  the  same  operator  or  employer  shall 
cease  to  work  until  such  member  or  members  shall  be  allowed 
to  resume  their  work, 

Section  12.  All  Lodges  in  this  Association  are  required  to 
report,  once  in  three  months,  their  condition,  as  to  increase 
or  decrease  of  members,  &c,  through  the  Miner. 

Sec,  13.  All  District  meetings  to  be  called  also  through  the 
Miner;  and  that  the  objects  of  such  meeting  should  be 
published  along  with  such  call,  together  with  the  time  and 
place  of  holding  such  meetings,  except  in  cases  hereinafter 
provided  for  by  special  resolution. 

Sec.  14.  All  petitions  to  the  General  Board  must  be  pre- 
sented on  the  first  day  of  each  session  of  the  General  Board, 
or  they  shall  not  be  acted  upon  during  that  session, 

Sec.  15.  The  Financial  Secretary  of  each  Lodge  shall 
make  out  and  sign  all  Clearanoe  Cards,  and  the  President 
of  each  Lodge  shall  countcsign  the  same. 

Sec.  16.  Any  Lodge  which  shall  refuse  to  receive  or  accept 
a  Clearance  Card  from  a  member  of  any  other  Lodge,  being 
in  good  standing,  shall  forfeit  and  pay  to  the  General  Board, 
for  each  offense,  the  sum  of  §20. 


12  GENERAL  LATFS. 

Sec.  17.  The  President  is  authorized  and  empowered  to 
admit  new  Lodges  to  the  Association,  and  to  assign  them 
their  number  and  District,  during  the  interval  between  the 
sessions  of  the  General  Board. 

Sec.  18.  All  Lodges  admitted,  either  by  the  President  or 
by  tho  Genei  al  Board,  to  this  Association,  which  may  not  be 
represented  by  delegate,  shall  be  required  to  pay  the  last 
levy  imposed  by  the  General  Board,  for  the  expense  account 
of  said  Board,  as  well  as  all  the  levies  for  the  Press,  before 
they  shall  be  entitled  to  full  benefits  from  tho  Association. 

Sec.  19.  Any  Lodge  which  shall  neglect  or  refuse  to  pay 
the  levies  or  assessments  laid  by  the  General  Board,  for  tho 
space  of  more  than  two  months  after  the  same  shall  have 
become  due,  shall  be  suspended  from  all  the  privileges  of  the 
Association  until  payment  shall  have  been  made  of  such 
levies  or  assessments;  nor  shall  any  member,  bringing  a 
clearance  card  from  any  such  Lodge,  be  received  into  any 
other  Lodge  during  the  term  of  such  suspension  ;  and  it  is 
hereby  made  the  duty  of  the  Financial  Secretary  to  report 
any  such  dereliction  of  duty  on  the  part  of  any  Lod^c  or 
Lodges,  as  soon  as  they  occur,  to  the  editor  of  the  Weekly 
Miner,  in  order  that  the  same  may  be  published  in  the  first 
regular  issue  of  the  above  paper  after  the  reception  of  such 
report.  And  upon  the  payment  of  such  arrears  to  tho 
Financial  Secretary,  he  shall  immediately  caus?  the  same  to 
be  published  in  the  columns  of  the  Miner  :  and  this  shall  be 
considered  legal  notice  of  the  fact  that  any  Lodge  so  paying 
is  again  reinstated  in  its  former  fellowship  with  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

Sec.  20.  Any  member  of  the  Association  who  may  quit 
coal  digging  to  work  temporarily  at  any  other  business,  shall, 
upon  his  return  to  coal  digging  again,  be  charged  only  with 
his  arrears  of  contribution  :  but,  if  he  shall  have  been 
digging  coal  at  any  other  place,  be  shall  be  required  to  pay, 
in  addition  to  his  arrears  of  contribution,  all  arrears  of 
levies,  assessments  or  fines  which  may  have  accrued  before 
the  presentation  of  his  card. 


RESOLUTIONS 


Resolved,  That  the  editor  of  the  Miner  shall  cause  a 
financial  report  to  be  published — once  in  three  months — in 
circular  form,  exhibiting  all  the  debits  and  credits  of  the 
said  office,  and  showing  the  balances,  if  any  remain ;  and 
one  copy  of  said  Circular  Financial  Report  shall  be  sent  to 
the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  each  Lodge  in  the  Associa- 
tion, as  soon  as  the  same  shall  be  issued. 

Resolved,  That,  in  case  it  becomes  necessary  to  call  any 
district  meeting,  in  such  haste  as  to  prevent  the  publication 
of  the  call  in  the  Miner,  if  the  meeting  is  called  in  any  other 
sufficient  manner,  the  call  for  such  meeting  shall  not  be 
deemed  illegal,  on  account  of  such  non-publication. 

Resolved,  That  whenever  any  Lodge  or  District  of  the 
American  Miners'  Association  desire  copies  of  the  Constitution 
and  Laws,  or  Cards,  or  other  printed  matter  for  their  use, 
they  shall  send  for  the  same  to  the  Miner  office,  and  that 
they  shall  be  charged  for  the  same  at  the  lowest  paying  rates 
— postage  added. 

Resolved,  That  all  correspondence  from  and  between  any 
Lodges  in  the  American  Miners'  Association,  from  and  after 
the  first  of  November,  1864,  which  have  not  been  impressed 
with  the  seal  of  the  Lodge  from  which  it  emanates,  shall  be 
considered  unofficial,  null  and  void  ;  but  the  Corresponding 
Secretary  of  each  Lodge  shall  have  the  privilege  of  impres- 
sing a  sufficient  number  of  blank  sheets  of  paper,  with  the 


14  RESOLUTIONS. 

seal  of  the  Lodge,  and  shall  keep  the  same  in  his  possession 
for  use  during  the  legal  term  of  his  official  career. 

Resolved,  That  any  operator  shall  he  eligible  to  office  in 
the  Association,  provided  he  be  a  legal  member  of  the  Asso- 
ciation, in  the  sense  of  that  paragraph  in  the  Constitution 
Which  reads  as  follows  :  "Any  member  of  the  Lodge,  who  is 
in  good  standing  with  his  Lodge,  shall  bo  eligible  to  election 
for  any  office  in  the  Association;"  and  also  the  following 
Section  in  the  laws :  "  That  this  Society  shall  be  called  the 
American  Miners'  Association,  and  shall  consist  exclusively 
of  practical  minors." 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  and  Laws  be  printed  in 
the  English,  German  and  Welch  languages. 

Resolved,  That  we  adopt  some  means  to  obtain  a  uniform 
rule  in  relation  to  the  rate  of  wages  paid  for  mining  coal 
throughout  the  mines  operated  by  members  of  this  Association. 

(Referred  to  the  various  District  Boards  for  their  action.) 

Resolved,  That  the  whole  question  in  referenco  to  tho 
turns  of  boys,  who  may  work  in  the  mines,  be  referred  for 
legislation  to  each  respective  District,  with  the  recommenda- 
tion from  this  Convention  that  they  be  urged  to  take  such 
action  in  referenco  to  the  matter  as  will  tend  to  discourage 
the  employment  in  the  mines  of  boys  below  tho  age  of  twelve 
years. 

Resolved,  That  the  Clearance  Cards  at  present  in  use  in 
all  the  new  States,  that  have  this  week  joined  the  Association, 
shall  be  received  as  valid  by  all  Lodges  in  the  Association 
until  the  first  day  of  November,  1864. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  recommend  to  each  minim; 
State,  now  embraced  in  the  American  Miners'  Association. 


bfiSOLttttoNS.  15 

that  they  should  each  take  the  necessary  steps — at  an  early 
day — to  meet  in  Branch  or  State  Conventions,  and  perfect 
their  respective  organizations,  by  electing  State  General 
Boards,  and  doing  such  other  legislative  acts  as  may  be 
embraced  within  the  purview  of  our  Constitution  and  Laws. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  give  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
our  friend  and  brother,  Mr.  William  Murdy,  of  Orangeville, 
Pennsylvania,  for  his  unwavering  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  American  Miners'  Association. 

Resolved,  That  the  next  National  Convention  be  held  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  the  first  Wednesday  in  September,  1865, 
and  that  an  assessment  be  laid  upon  each  member  in  the 
Association  of  fifty  cents,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  that 
Convention. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention,  and  the 
Association,  are  hereby  given  to  John  Hinchcliffe,  editor  of 
the  Miner,  for  his  valuable  services  and  persistent  efforts  in 
behalf  of  the  Association. 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Convention  be  awarded 
by  acclamation  to  Mr.  B.  M.  Hetherington  for  his  services 
in  behalf  of  the  Association,  both  as  Clerk  in  the  office 
and  as  Special  Agent  to  obtain  subscriptions  to  the  Miner. 


BY-LAWS. 


I.  Any  member  having  tiny  remarks  to  make  must  rise  to 
his  feet  and  address  the  Chair. 

II.  Any  member  talking  or  leaving  the  room  while  another 
has  tho  floor  will  be  considered  out  of  order. 

III.  No  member  shall  leavo  tho  room  without  leave  of  tho 
President. 

IV.  Any  member  refusing  to  keep  order,  when  called  upon 
to  do  so,  shall  be  tried  by  the  General  Committee,  and  dealt 
with  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

V.  The  Laws  shall  be  read  at  least  onco  a  month  to  tho 
Lodge  while  in  session. 

VI.  No  person  shall  become  a  member  of  this  Association 
unless  he  be  proposed  by  a  member,  in  good  standing,  and  a 
majority  of  tho  members  present  vote  for  his  admission. 


RULES  OF  ORDER. 


I.  The  Association  shall  bo  called  to  order  by  tho 
President. 

II.  The  Secretary  shall  then  read  the  minutes  of  the  last 
regular  meeting,  and  of  all  special  meetings  that  may  have 
been  subsequently  held. 

III.  Roll  of  officers  called. 

IV.  Reports  of  Special  Committees  shall  then  be  received 
and  acted  on. 

V.  Propositions  for  membership  shall  be  in  order. 

VI.  Old  or  unfinished  business  shall  then  be  in  order. 

VII.  New  or  miscellaneous  business  shall  then  be  in  order. 

VIII.  To  adjourn. 


